                 PRAVO TRAKIJSKO HORO & CESTOTO
                Central Bulgaria - Eastern Thrace

The Pravo is the basic "straight" dance done in one form or another
all over Bulgaria. The dance presented here is representative of the 
Pravo danced throughout Thrace (Trakija). In each village the dance 
will look somewhat different, but the basic structure is essentially 
the same. The variations below are a collection of steps commonly done 
by folk dancers throughout the US and as seen done by various groups 
in Bulgaria.

Pronounced: PRAH-vo TRA-kee-sko Hoh-roh & CHES-toe-doe

The Dance:  Pravo Trakijsko has two distinct parts: the Pravo, danced 
            in a mixed line that progresses around the dance floor, 
            and Cestoto (meaning thick-and-fast), traditionally danced 
            by men only in a straight line arranged to show off 
            fancy steps. 

            Both parts are danced holding belts (left arm over right). 
            The Cestoto portion is danced in place (na majesto) facing 
            center. A chorus tapping step called Tropoli is 
            interspersed between the fancy steps. Cestoto is a "called"
            dance, there must be a leader who initiates Cestoto from 
            the pravo and then calls the steps. There are many other 
            Cestoto steps beyond what is presented here; it is the 
            leader's responsibility to communicate to the other dances 
            what step is next. The steps can be done in any order. The 
            Cestoto portion is entirely optional and can interrupt the 
            pravo at any time (although usually only once).

Rhythm:     6/8 counted 1, 2 (really 123,123 but we dance just the two 
            triplets). In Cestoto the tropoli step is counted 1 & 2 &.
            The four counts are spread out evenly across the 6 beats 
            (no syncopation).

Recording:  Any suitable Pravo Trakijsko Horo. The music should be 
            quite brisk and lively for the Cestoto.

Formation:  Mixed lines of men and women, holding belts. The leader is 
            on the right. When the Cestoto portion starts, either the 
            entire line does the Cestoto steps, or those doing the 
            Cestoto steps form a new belt-hold line inside (towards the 
            center) of the original line. Traditionally, some or all of 
            the men would leave the line and the women would either 
            stop and watch or continue the pravo around the men's line. 
            The entire dance is done with the knees bent. This position 
            is especially evident in the Cestoto.
 
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Meas  Ct    PRAVO - Short Basic - Done at the start, to the slower music
----- ----  ------------------------------------------------------------

1     1     Facing center & moving R, step to R and slightly back onto R
      2     Step L next to R
2     1-2   Step to R and slightly back onto R (Ct. 1), Pause (Ct. 2)
3     1-2   Step slightly forward onto L foot (Ct. 1), Pause (Ct. 2)
            REPEAT the above pattern as long as desired then transition 
               onto measure 4 of the next step

            PRAVO - Basic
1     1     Facing center and moving R, step diagonally forward onto R
      2     Step onto L next to R
2     1-2   Step diagonally fwd onto R (Ct. 1); Slight "uh" on R (Ct. 2)
3     1-2   Step onto L in front of R (Ct. 1); Slight "uh" on L (Ct. 2)
4     1     Step back and slightly R onto R foot
      2     Step back onto L foot
5     1-2   Step slightly back onto R (Ct. 1); Slight "uh" on R (Ct. 2)
6     1-2   Step slightly to L onto L (Ct. 1); Slight "uh" on L (Ct. 2)

All of the "Pravo" variations can be added at the individual dancer's 
option, depending on the speed of the music and the energy of the 
adjacent dancers. Remember to dance with the adjacent dancers.

            PRAVO - Variation - Slower music - "Pause"
1-2         As in the Basic above
3     1     Step onto L in front of R
      2     Step onto R slightly to R
4     1     Pause on R
      2     Step back onto L
5-6         As in the Basic above


Meas  Ct    PRAVO - Variation - Energetic music - "Jump"
1-2         As in the Basic above
3     1     Step onto L in front of R
      2     Jump onto both feet, leaving L in place (feet should be 
               about 12" apart)
4     1     Leap back onto R
      2     Step back onto L
5-6         As in the Basic above

            PRAVO - Variation - Energetic music - "Stamps"
1     1     Stamp diagonally forward onto R
      2     Step onto L next to R
      &     Scuff diagonally fwd with R (with no weight)
2     1     Stamp diagonally fwd onto R (completing the scuffing 
               motion)
      2     Slight "Uh" or Chug on R
3-6         As in the Basic or the Jump variation above

            PRAVO - Variation - Energetic music - "Step Behind"
1     1     Step diagonally fwd onto R (should have a falling feeling)
      2     Step diagonally forward onto L (with same falling feeling)
2     1     Step diagonally forward onto R (with same falling feeling)
      &     Step on L close Behind to R of R foot (a sort of running 3)
      2     Step diagonally forward onto R 
3-6         As in the Basic or the Jump variation above

            PRAVO - Variation - Energetic music - "Squats"
1-4         As in the Basic above
5     1     Step slightly back onto R
      2     Swing L across in front of R in upward "bicycle" motion
6     1-2   Squat on both feet facing slightly R (Ct. 1); Pause (Ct. 2)
      &     Begin to rise with weight on L, ready to repeat the basic

The Cestoto "chorus" step, called Tropoli (literally "tapping") is danced 
in place between each of the Cestoto steps. The call for the next step is 
shouted at the beginning of any two measure Tropoli step. At least 4 
measures of Tropoli should separate the called steps. Cestoto starts by 
doing tropoli for measures 5-6 of the basic Pravo.

            CESTOTO - Basic - "Tropoli" - Danced in place as the "chorus"
1     1     Step on R in place (the step is like a fall onto the R)
      &     Touch ball of L in place, taking weight very slightly
      2     Step on R in place
      &     Stamp L in place
2           REPEAT measure 1 with opposite footwork
            The Tropoli step can be simulated by rocking from L to R 
                tapping your feet as you go.

            CESTOTO - Izvrli (Throws) - Shout "Yee-Ha" during meas. 1
1     1     Step on R directly forward, leaving L foot on the floor
      2     Swing the L foot low and forward
2     1     Slight "uh" on R, continuing to swing the L foot
      2     Step on L back in place

            CESTOTO - Izvrli Dva Puti (Izvrli Two Times)
1-4         Repeat the above Izvrli step twice

            CESTOTO - Napred (Forward)
1     1-2   Step fwd on R (Ct. 1); Step fwd on L (Ct. 2)
2     1     Close R to L (Ct. 1); Pause (Ct. 2)
3-4         REPEAT meas. 1
5-6         Izvrli step above

            CESTOTO - Tri V'Djasno, Tri V'Ljavo 
                      (3 to the Right, 3 to the Left)
1     1-2   Step on R sideways to R (Ct. 1); Step on L behind R (Ct. 2)
2     1-2   Step on R sideways to R (Ct. 1); Step on L behind R (Ct. 2)
3     1     Step on R sideways to R
      &     Tap L next to R
      2     Step on R in place
4-6         REPEAT meas. 1-3 with opposite footwork and direction
Meas  Ct    CESTOTO - Hlopka (Slaps)
1     1-2   Step fwd on R (Ct. 1); Step fwd on L (Ct. 2)
2     1-2   Close R to L
3     1-2   Step fwd on R (Ct. 1); Step fwd on L (Ct. 2)
4     1-2   Slap R on floor diagonally fwd to R
5     1-2   Slap R on floor
6     1-2   Slap R on floor
7     1-2   Slap R on floor (Ct. 1); Slap R on floor (Ct. 2)
8     1-2   Slap R on floor
9-10        Izvrli step above

            CESTOTO - Hlopka i Kljakane (Slaps & Squat)
1-8         Hlopka step above
9           Squat in place
10          Rise Up from squat onto both feet

            CESTOTO - Po Certami (In Line)
1     1     Stamp on R straight fwd, twisting knee to R
      &     Stamp on L next to R cont. fwd motion (stamp is like a 
               scuff)
      2     Stamp on L straight fwd, twisting knee to L
      &     Stamp on R next to L cont. fwd motion (like a scuff)
2     1-2   Repeat meas. 1 with opposite footwork
3     1     Stamp on R straight fwd, twisting knee to R
      2     Stamp on L straight fwd, twisting knee to L
4     1-2   Repeat meas. 3 with opposite footwork
5-6   1-2   Repeat measures 3-4
7-8         Izvrli step above

            CESTOTO - Zaredi
1     1     Step forward onto R
      2     Step forward onto L turning to face diag. R
2     1     Step on R to R diagonally away from center
      &     Touch L next to R, taking weight very slightly
      2     Step on R in place
      &     Stamp on L in next to R
3     1     Leap to L onto L, turning to face diag. L
      2     Stamp on R beside L
4     1     Stepstraight  forward onto R
      2     Jump onto both feet facing diag. R (feet should be 
               about 12" apart)
5     1     Leap onto R back in place (now facing directly forward)
      2     Step on L in place (ever so slightly back)
6-7         Izvrli step above
(8-11)      (Tropoli for 4 measures)
(12-18)     (Repeat again to get back on the phrase)
            Note: Drop the last stamp of the Tropoli preceeding 
                  this step.

Dance Description by Tom Deering
